🚵🇧🇪 | Wat een ongelofelijk einde. Nys en Sweeck gaan zij-aan-zij de finale in. Wie is de sterkste in de sprint van Diegem? #Superprestige 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max
Nys disappointed after intense battle with Sweeck: "I get played with throughout the race and did not have the right answer in certain situation"
Cyclo-crossWednesday, 01 January 2025 at 11:57
In Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert's absence, we saw yet another exciting cyclo-cross in Diegem. Laurens Sweeck won the evening cross after a fierce duel with Niels Vandeputte and Thibau Nys until the final meters. Let's hear what they had to say afterward.
The Crelan-Corendon rider eventually won after battling Nys in the final. "You had to be in front for that last corner, and we both knew that. But we were both exhausted because we were sprinting before that. The crowd was excited during the last lap. That didn't do any good to my ears, but it only makes you race harder."
"It was continuing to bluff and pretend you were on to something so the other one gives up the fight,2 Sweeck said. "Before that last bridge, I knew I had to stop hesitating. That worked perfectly. This is a significant win, but then again, so is every win. In Besançon, I was terrible because of the cold, but now we feel different."
Nys was disappointed. "I get played with throughout the race and did not have the right answer in certain situations. Michael broke his shoe and had a few crashes. That cost me a lot of strength. In the last lap, I made a mistake just before the slant, which put me in fourth place. There, I already had to ride a sprint to get back to those guys. I just couldn't keep it focused enough, and that's a shame because I had the legs. To lose it like that is very painful."
"I felt physically the strongest, and I thought it would be hard to pass me after that sandpit, but I was pushing against the limit there, too. I could grab five or six meters, but my last turns were not tight enough to keep the door closed and keep Laurens behind me," said Nys, always sharply analyzing.
"The race remained much closer than I thought, so it was hard to play off my strengths. I put myself to sleep too much, which is disappointing with these legs. Although Laurens is the well-deserved winner, he did everything perfectly. This is a bitter pill for me," Nys concluded.
Vandeputte eventually finished between Sweeck and Nys, which was important for his Superprestige ranking. In that ranking, he was ahead of Lars van der Haar, number two, and Michael Vanthourenhout, number three, who had to give up in Diegem. But I'm still disappointed. I was in my head the whole race with the victory because I felt I had the legs for it.
"I made wrong decisions," Vandeputte said. "I placed my attack early in the final lap, where I lost my best shots, but I should have saved those. Usually, I can time that well, but now I still have some learning. I'm still sore, but I think that will be gone when I wake up."
Video: exciting battle Sweeck and Nys in Diegem
Il Lombardia 2024
Sand specialist Sweeck lives up to his name and wins Duinencross Koksijde, but Del Grosso challenges him
Christoph Roodhooft shares medical update on Mathieu van der Poel: "We are quite concerned"
Brand 'blows it' in the first round and Van Empel feeling ill: "In the end you just lack the power"
Pieterse on track for her big goals: "I'm improving every week, things are heading in the right direction"
Pieterse wins impressively in the dunes of Koksijde, Brand and Van Empel join her on the podium
Latest Cycling News
Sand specialist Sweeck lives up to his name and wins Duinencross Koksijde, but Del Grosso challenges him
Christoph Roodhooft shares medical update on Mathieu van der Poel: "We are quite concerned"
Brand 'blows it' in the first round and Van Empel feeling ill: "In the end you just lack the power"
Pieterse on track for her big goals: "I'm improving every week, things are heading in the right direction"
Pieterse wins impressively in the dunes of Koksijde, Brand and Van Empel join her on the podium
Popular Cycling News
🎥 Just like with Pogacar, an amateur cyclist clings to Vingegaard's wheel: "Why don't you shave your legs in winter?"
Cycling kits 2025: Visma | No new colors, but some changes at Unibet Tietema Rockets
UAE gem Del Toro cycles too fast for his friends, but not (yet) as fast as Pogacar: "Metrics much better"
Disappointed Van der Poel skips another cyclo-cross race, and next race could be "a close call"
Christoph Roodhooft shares medical update on Mathieu van der Poel: "We are quite concerned"
Latest Comments
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024